Kickoff (Cape Town)
25 November 2008
Santos' recent win over Maritzburg United should go a long way towards restoring confidence within the team that travels to Natal at the weekend to take on Thanda Royal Zulu.
This is the view of head coach David Bright, who believes that his team have been suffering from the jitters, especially up front, as the pressure to win has increased in recent games.
"We are very happy with the performance from the team on the night. We needed the three points and we are happy to have scored two goals and conceded none - it is a good record.
"The players have been under pressure because the team has not been doing well, but I feel that after tonight the composure will return to the team."
Thanda after their impressive start to the 2008/09 season have had a string of poor results of late. They have lost three of their last four matches, which includes their last two league encounters; 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns and 4-2 to Orlando Pirates in their most recent match.
Coach Roger Palmgren, however, was not happy with the officiating at the newly-reopened Orlando Stadium and feels that the Bucs score-line was not a true reflection of the game.
Despite their poor performance of late the Amabhubesi still boast the league's top goal scorer in the form of Bernard Parker who has a total of seven goals.
Only one place separates the two sides on the Absa Premiership log. Santos, after their 2-0 win over newly promoted Maritzburg United in their last Premier League encounter, sit one spot above Thanda in 11th place.
They are also a single point ahead of the Amabhubesi on 11 points.
Tomorrow's match will represent only the fifth time the two clubs have met each other in league competition.
In their four previous meetings Thanda have won twice whereas Santos has only won one.
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